OUTTAKES

Mike Hammer Keeps His Nose Clean

When Stacy Keach resurfaces in "Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer," now shooting here, don't look for the private eye to go after any drug dealers. Ditto if there's a series pickup. Since Keach's conviction on cocaine charges and a six-month prison stretch in England, substance abuse has become too awkward as a story element.

"Let's just say that as a priority, any story dealing with drugs would be at the bottom of our list," conceded Jay Bernstein, exec producer and Keach's manager.

In the movie, Hammer leaves NYC for Hollywood in pursuit of the kidnaped daughter of a glamorous movie star (played by Lauren Hutton).

"My deal with CBS gives us a good time slot (for the movie). If we get good ratings, we'll be back as a series in 1986," he said, adding shamelessly, "So I want everybody to watch."